Don't tell Eliza!

We finally found her!!!!!

A Lalaloopsy Silly Hair Doll!!!!!

We checked online they wanted to charge $64.95 for her,

 Toys-r-us... they couldn't help us,

Target ...  no luck

Walmart #1 ... had 22 of them ... yesterday.  

The computer even showed 5 of them in the store!  But I couldn't find any on the shelves.  They were probably walking around in someone's cart.  I walked around checking out every cart I could see.
I don't know what I would have done if I did see one...  

maybe offer some crazy amount of money for the Lalaloopsy Silly Hair Doll in their cart that really belongs with my little girl.

or

Give them a story that would break their heart about how my little girl has told every Santa she has seen this season that she really wants this doll, so they would just hand it over.  

(It would probably just make them think, "awesome!  I got the perfect gift."  Cause that is what they did.)

So I decided it was time to strategize...

I woke Rob up at 5:00 AM and said, "let's go shopping."

We were going to hit Walmart just as the shelves were getting restocked!

This plan was foolproof

Walmart #2 ... had been waiting two weeks for a Lalaloopsy Silly Hair Doll

Walmart #3 ... I couldn't find them on the shelf and the girl wouldn't dare stop what she is doing to help a desperate mother.

Walmart #4 ...  In the middle of restocking, I asked the guy there if they had any and he checked the computer for me.  He said they were supposed to get eight of them some time in the next three days.

We had to get home because it was a school day and our kids need us.   Dejected, and running out of time, we turned to leave.  Then the wonderful Walmart guy said, "Do you want me to see which Walmart does have some?"

I didn't even know they could do that!

There was a Walmart just about 7 miles away that had 11 of them!  We took one look at each other and both knew in our hearts what we were going to do without saying a word.

Walmart #5...  We walked straight back to the toy section and did a quick scan and couldn't find her anywhere.

Then I let my eyes wander and there through the bike section I could see some dolls,  

Was it?  Could it be?  Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!

There she was!!!   Lalaloopsy Silly Hair Doll!!!  

After days of searching, scanning the internet, missing sleep to shop, and countless Walmart workers helping me, there she was!
It was all worth it cause, there she was!
We were about to give up, yet there she was!!!
I was beginning to believe she didn't exist, and there she was!!




A Lalaloopsy Silly Hair Doll!!!!!

I sure hope Eliza likes her Christmas present.

Random Conversations #77

I was making cookies

Eliza:  Mom, I want a cookie
Lane:  I don't because they are peanut butter cookies
Eliza:  I do because they are peanut butter.........What a quah-din-sadence! (pronounced as spelled)

Random Conversations #76

Eliza:  Mommy, will you please make me some jelly toast?
Me:  Sure
Eliza:  Thanks, I am just gonna sit here looking at the Christmas tree and wait for Christmas!

Random Conversations #75

I took my two oldest girls shopping on black Friday and when we were getting in the car to go home...

Marley:  In every store they should hide $200 in a really ugly purse so when you buy the purse the money will be yours.

Random Conversations #74

Me:  Eliza, you are so sweet.
Eliza:  I know
Me:  Instead of saying "I know" it is nice to say, "thank you"
Eliza:  Well, I actually do know it.

Random Conversations #73

Lane:  It is going to be a happy day!
Me:  Why is that?

Lane:  Because that's what I decided.

Cross Country State Meet

I LOVE watching cross country!

  

There is nothing like giving something your all!!! 

When was the last time you did a task with so much heart and gave it so much of your strength that... 

your legs cramped and you just kept going?

your stomach started heaving and you just kept going?

you were hot, sweaty, and dehydrated and you just kept going?

I love cross country because it teaches kids.....

that the more you practice, the more you can endure!

that they are stronger than they think they are!

that they can do more than they think they can!

that no matter what the obstacle in their path if they put one foot in front of the other they will get where they are going!

that when you think you can't go any further, that's when you go the hardest!

Price is the one in the light blue.

the poor kid in the orange doesn't know what is right behind him

check out those muscles!

FINISH LINE!!!

Price, you are amazing!  and so fast!!!

I'm done!

I've been stuck in my house for the last few days because we are doing some construction, 

and I finally finished updating my blog!  

It feels good.

Marley's birthday!!

She gets to go Young Women at church!

She just started wearing makeup (sparingly)!

She's got herself a pair of high heals!

This girl is on her way to becoming a teenager!

and it is scaring her mother (just a little.)

Princesses

Random Conversations #72

Me (talking to a guy that is retexturing our ceilings as he walks away):  Thanks Jeremy!
Eliza:  That's funny, he has the same name as my imaginary ex-boyfriend.

Good bye Volleyball

School volleyball is over for the year.  Sydney got to play with some great girls!  

We are sad to see it end and happy to have a bit more free time.

Lane's birthday party

Lane came to me and told me she was going to have a birthday party.  

She made the invitations and handed them out at school and church.  

She planned the games; 

mingle, janitor, dancing, and swimming (it was pretty cool that day but they swam anyway).  

I just gave her a some help with decorating, that is my favorite part of a party after all.

Marley and Sydney helped me make this 4 layer chocolate cake that was seriously the best cake I've ever tasted!

Making a wish!  It looks like a good one!!

Friends!

Cousins!

Grammy!

Laney, you throw a great party!!!

Before and After

Before

 After

In LOVE with this material!

Halloween 2011

For Halloween this year we only had three costume clad children. 

My camera lens is broken and is not focussing.  I'm frustrated and so sad that life is passing us by and all we'll have to show for this time is blurry pictures, so please forgive the imperfections.

Marley started out as a "mad scientist" but didn't like the crazy hair and decided to nix the "mad" part and be a scientist.  (I think she was looking for an easy escape from her costume when she got sick of it)

 Lane, the spy.  We've been into watching Burn Notice on TV lately. While it has given her at least one nightmare it also gave her an idea for a Halloween costume.  

Guess you've got to take the good with the bad. :)

 Eliza, the cowgirl.  She was so excited about this outfit!  We ended up adding the vest at the last second.  I took one of my tank tops and cut it up and tied knots here and there and it turned out so cute!

Important Notice

Someone alert the tooth fairy!  Her services are going to be needed tonight!!!!

Random Conversations #71

Eliza:  Mommy?
Me:  yes Eliza
Eliza:  Mommy, I think I want to stop calling you Mommy.
Me:  (kinda sad)  Oh really?
Eliza:  I just think I am getting too grown up to call you Mommy.
Me:  What are you going to call me?
Eliza:  Just Mom, or something like that.
Me:  Are you sure?  Quincey (cousin) calls her Mom Mommy and she's like 16 years old.
Eliza:  Sorry Mommy I'm just going to start calling you Mom.
Me:  OK (holding back the tears) that's ok with me.
Eliza:  Thanks Mommy

Five minutes pass

Eliza:  Mommy, can you please do my hair now?

Volleyball

Volleyball season is about to come to a close.  It has been so much fun watching Sydney turn into a really talented player.  The girl amazes me!  It is stressful and exciting to watch her play, to celebrate with her successes and hurt with any mistake she makes.

Hawaii

Spent 9 days with my favorite guy in Hawaii!  

Some of the highlights....

Driving around in a convertible

Visiting Pearl Harbor on 9/11

Hiking (we took a couple of hikes almost every day)

Going out for great food

Polynesian Cultural Center

Snorkeling at Hanama Bay 

Taking a nap on the beach at Turtle Bay

Swimming with HUGE Sharks

Happy Birthday Lane!

I love this girl!!!!

She is a bunch of opposites rolled into one.

She is crazy and serious at the same time.

She is a bit of a hoarder, but she is neat about it.

She cares what she looks like and doesn't care at all.

She doesn't let things that are out of her control get her down.

She does NOT like boys however some of her best friends are boys.

She loves hats and boots and earrings.  She hates getting her hair done.

She comes up with some crazy outfits but the girl sure knows how to work it.

She spends a lot of time outdoors and squeezed into the smallest space she can find.

She is willing to try things even when she knows it is going to be hard or is truly scared.

Lane is my beautiful, cuddly, wise beyond her years, 9 year old.

I'm so blessed to have those big brown eyes look into mine everyday!!!

Pets

Lane has been dreaming of this day...

....the day she could get a pet of her own.

Now she just has to get brave enough to pick the cute little hamster up without any gloves.
 
The cute little hamster we lovingly nicknamed "Vicious"  because of how she launches toward your hand with her teeth bared and ready for blood the second you place it in her cage.

Her real name is Omlet. (don't ask me why) and I know it is spelled wrong but the name was determined and letters cut out and stuck to the cage before I had a chance to influence any part of that decision.  :)

Just one of the things Eliza and I do together

Afternoon kindergarten doesn't start until 12:55 each day.  

Sometimes we find it hard to fill the time with worthwhile things.  

Today we built this tower that was taller then me.  

(not easy to do, being that I am 6 feet tall)

Eliza is a bit of a poser.

I couldn't choose just one.

Nearly a driver

Here is the face of a boy that just passed his driver's permit test.

He was a little excited!

Flyin' High

Here he is, my only boy, on the way to his Eagle Board of Review!!!!

HE PASSED!!!

We only have one more thing to do then our responsibility (as parents) in the scouting program is OVER!!!
not that I'm excited about that or anything